EVENTS IN MAY 2019. A useful shortlist.

Last two years have brought us probably the warmest Mays in history. The Northern hemisphere is blooming, so is finally the universe of events. This month's public life in Riga is rather exploding - from large, even international events to small, yet intense suburban happenings. Here comes one of CAPITAL R's lushest event shortlists by far - painfully picked out from a bucket of at least twice as more good quality events across the whole city!

KRITISKĀ MASA

When: 1 MayWhere:Dailes teātrisHow much: free
This year marks the 16th time a Critical Mass event takes place in Riga. It gathers more than 1000 cyclists and now also skaters and scooters, who join together to emphasize its presence and the need for cycling infrastructure, likewise tolerance, and the necessity of unity to party! "Before the ride, please install Critical Maps on your phone an run it while riding! See the ride on a live map: http://ej.uz/kmkarte"

VALERIE SAVCHITS

When: until 18 MayWhere:carevaHow much: free
"This is a first solo show by Valerie Savchits in Riga. She was born in Riga and moved to the North West of England at the age of 19. Since completing her studies at University of Salford in 2016, her work has been actively exhibited in galleries and art fairs. Savchits is the recipient of Hotel Elephant and Southwark Council Arts & Culture Grant Scheme and was selected as one of the three hundred art students to exhibit her work at 'Future Late' exhibition in Tate Modern in summer 2016 followed by another opportunity with Saatchi Gallery. Valerie has been featured in numerous blogs and publications including The Guardian, BBC Live, Manchester Evening News, The Resident and Art Maze Magazine."Web

KATRĪNA NEIBURGAHair

When: all month - 9 JuneWhere:Kim?How much: € (free on Tuesdays)
Katrīna Neiburga is probably one of the top Latvian artists in XXI century we clearly suggest to see any time there's a possibility. We can assure you - every exhibition of hers sings, including this one curated by the emerging Elīna Sproģe. "Virgin hair, locks of love, ropes of hair, newborns’ hair, hair from the dead, hair markets, bald domes, hair that has fallen out, hair pain, bad hair days, hair in food, wigs, hair fetishes, lifeless hair, permed hair. Hair worn up, braided, slicked back, combed. Split ends, sweepings, messy hair. Dry, coloured, greasy, shiny, blonde, and black hair. And then the hair dressers – hair dressers in fashionable salons, hair dressers in apartments, hair dressers in small town salons, and in market stalls. Hair dressers in kitchens, hair dressers under the stars, and in bars." The multimedia and archive artwork exhibition collects all of the named into a bizarre, yet intriguing collection of our visible, invisible and imaginary "hair world".Web

LITTLE BIG

When: 6 MayWhere:PalladiumHow much: €€€
Recognize SKIBIDI? Opinions might differ, yet it's hard to find someone, who uses the Internets to not know anything about the new Russian Eastern European pump dance disco electro trash clash band. Riga has experienced a few of their concerts in some pro-Kremlin or even pro-Metalhead music huts before. Now LITTLE BIG come to town in a new emploi with a fresh pro-hipster and normcore kid following.Tickets

GAS OF LATVIA

When: 9 MayWhere:ONE ONEHow much: €
Andris Indāns or Gas Of Latvia is one of the most important musicians in
the whole history of Latvian electro, techno, IDM, industrial and any
other combination of synthetic dance sounds. Now the "extravagant
electronic music project announces the release of his new, 16th album
«Nutcracker». It is a musical concentrate for struggle, love and dance.
The concert will be a joint performance by the author of Gas of Latvia
Andris Indāns and musician Gatis Ziema, who complements the «Nutcracker»
with guitar sounds" TicketsSoundcloud

ICE HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPWhen: 10 - 25 MayWhere: on screens around the cityHow much: free
Some say the Latvian Ice hockey team are playing an average game. But, when you look at the stats - our team has been among TOP 9 - 13 of WORLD'S teams for consequent 22 years since we fought our toughest games to get into the highest division after The Soviet Union collapsed. Whether it is a great score or not - every spring Latvians go nuts, and even those, who ignore any sports, become interested into ice hockey at least once per year. WCIH is definitely "a-must" happening to attend at least at home.

RIGA PHOTOMONTHopening weekWhen: 13 - 18 MayWhere: various venues across the cityHow much: free - €
Riga Photomonth is one of the most important events to photography world in this part of Europe. Whenever you have a chance to visit any of the following events during this week and then after - do it ASAP.
"Riga Photomonth is an international photography festival that takes place in the capital of Latvia since 2014. Riga Photomonth explores and shows photography from Northern and Eastern Europe. The festival’s public programme includes exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, lectures and film screenings. In addition Riga Photomonth hosts portfolio reviews and workshops for professionals."Facebook Web

TET RIGA MARATHON

When: 18 - 19 MayWhere:11. novembra krastmalaHow much: € - €€€€€
If you ever wonder are Latvians a running nation and is the the local marathon "decent" enough, then here is a little quote to clear up your doubts. "After six consecutive years as a Bronze Label Road Race, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has confirmed the Tet Riga Marathon’s compliance with the prestigious Gold Label. The Tet Riga Marathon will be a Gold Label marathon for the first time this year, becoming the only marathon in Northern Europe to have entered the league of the world’s most prestigious marathons alongside Berlin, Tokyo, London, Boston, New York, Prague. The Gold Label gives Riga the status of the most significant marathon in Northern Europe - In 2018, only 36 events worldwide were allowed to use the IAAF Gold Label (of which only 11 were in Europe)."Web+Tickets

MAD CITY

When: 30 - 31 MayWhere:Latvian Railroad History Museum + NOASSHow much: €€€€€+
"A two-day long international event dedicated to unusual ideas for the future development of cities. Consider this a happening, a sparkling and ﬂavourful event for urban developers, planners, thinkers, bankers, bikers, artists and IT guys. Quality interactions, active networking, constant challenging and questioning, different future visions, relaxing and having fun.
First day -s shaped around lectures and pitches by world-class experts + panel discussions about different visions of development withspeed-dating elements. A second day is designed as a full-on urban planning hackathon for the left-bank area around university campuses and its micro-mobility."Tickets Web

KONTAKTOR2

When: 31 May - 2 JuneWhere:Kontaktor RigaHow much: €€€
"Live electronic music festival Kontaktor will return for its second edition on 31st of May 2019 brought to you by Latvian synthesizer manufacturer Erica Synths. Festival will take place at a former cotton warehouse in the main building of Riga Commercial Port. Among others the program consists of Detroit’s electro pioneers AUX 88, experimental electronics duo Emptyset and the aggressive techno punk T.Raumschmiere."Tickets

MORE INFOWhat else: don't miss a chance to visit majority of museums around the country during the Museum Night! On 18 May all doors to them will be open and many endless queues will be formed. Therefore CAPITAL R suggests taking a chance to visit something off the centre or even off Riga. Something you wouldn't consider visiting otherwise.

CAPITAL R is a storytelling, review, research, and multimedia local web gazette in ENGLISH. Your independent 5-minute blog on Rīga's authenticity in history and present, architecture and culture, art and underground, streets and souls.